Browsing by Author "Samuel Olanrewaju AREH"

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    BLOG POSTS AND STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF FAKE NEWS. EVIDENCE FROM 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA
    (2026) Victor Olusegun BABATUNDE; Samuel Olanrewaju AREH
    The 2023 Nigeria General Elections witnessed unprecedented digital engagement, with blog posts becoming primary information sources for students and young voters. However, the proliferation of fake news on these platforms threatens informed democratic participation. This study, anchored in the Source Credibility Theory (SCT), investigates the perception of fake news among students of Graceland Polytechnic, Offa. Adopting a descriptive quantitative survey design, data were collected from 387 students via a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed a high level of exposure to election blogs among students. However, their overall perception of fake news was moderate, indicating a recognition of its presence without a sense of overwhelming personal impact. The study found that students' verification strategies were largely reactive, and a moderate relationship existed between their digital literacy levels and susceptibility to fake news. Exposure to misinformation had a moderate influence on electoral decisions, primarily by creating confusion rather than directly altering votes. The study concludes that while students are highly exposed to digital political information, a significant gap exists between this exposure and the consistent application of critical evaluation skills, leaving them vulnerable to misinformation. It is recommended that educational institutions integrate structured media literacy programs into their curricula and that stakeholders launch targeted digital fact-checking initiatives to bolster students' resilience against fake news and safeguard electoral integrity